Georges Creek Task Force Holds Second Meeting
Georges Creek Task Force
July 16, 2025 | 9 am
Office of Senator Mike McKay | Mechanic Street | Cumberland, MD 21502
Present:
- Senator Mike McKay
- Mayor Jack Coburn, Town of Lonaconing
- John Kirby
- Scott Shoemaker, Superintendent – UPRC
- Bill Valentine
- Elizabeth Stahlman, Tri County Council for Western Maryland
At 9:05 am, Senator McKay convened the meeting of Georges Creek Task Force Executive Committee. The first item discussed was other committee/subcommittee members. The NRCS agency played a pivotal role in contributing to the 1996 plan, but to the Executive Committee’s knowledge, they had not been engaged following the 2025 flooding. McKay and/or Shoemaker indicated they would contact the local office to see if they would participate on a subcommittee.
Subcommittee Framework:
- Towns – to include elected officials and administrators
- MDE/DNR – permitting, clearing of debris, dredging, etc.
- County Government – Tri County Council will conduct 1:1 interviews with relevant County employees
- Infrastructure – Town Public Works, UPRC, MDOT
- History – Include individuals who were present for 1996 flood & subsequent recovery efforts (Al Feldstein, Mary Beth Pirolozzi, Craig Alexander)
Other ideas discussed that could be addressed in the Task Force report were the opportunity for storm water management controls upstream, similar in nature to work being done to mitigate flooding in Ellicott City, in conjunction with, or in addition to, mine reclamation projects.
Issues that have come to light as part of the recovery are stipulations related to emergency funding assistance offered by the State of Maryland – there are strings attached to funding for homeowners that may make it impractical for those with limited incomes to be able to utilize.
For example:
- Matching requirements
- Funding on reimbursement basis
- Funding will pay for new hot water tank or furnace but will not cover installation.
Discussion Points:
- Relocation of certain entities located in the known floodplain – the consensus was that any ideas brought forth should be related to the towns’ leadership and collaboration – rather than an edict from the Executive Committee or elsewhere.
Mayor Coburn provided a summary of issues/concerns from Georges Creek:
- Assistance has been provided for new appliances (e.g. hot water heaters, furnaces), however many homeowners do not have the resources to pay for installation. Also expressed concern that people may not be concerned about their furnace during the heat of the summer – but will these furnaces function come cold weather, or will it be another need.
- Most of the communication to residents has been done via the web (websites, social media, etc.) however, some residents do not use/have access to computers and/or smart phones, so other forms of communication would still be helpful.
- The assistance center set up by DSS at the Goodwill Armory was underutilized with very few visits. Mayor Coburn stated that he felt those resources would have been better utilized by going door to door to affected areas. People struggling to clean up, etc., did not want to leave their homes where work was needed and/or unable to leave home.
- Money is out there, but it seems there are limitations that prevent it from being fully utilized.
Sen. McKay said he has inquired to County about Local Development Council funding, and if their funding could be used to supplement the other funding used for homeowner recovery.
Other Issues Mentioned:
- Gas lines in Beechwood
- Creek beds in Barton in need of clean up/dredging
- Condition of Laurel Run area – still a lot of work to be done
- Stream bank erosion and SDAT – as property is lost to stream bank erosion, do property owners pay less property tax or less land area?
- Possibility of Army Corps of Engineers doing a full-scale dredge/cleanup of Georges Creek
- Small towns have difficulty responding to emergency needs while also carrying on town business as usual. Discussion was had that Circuit Rider and/or TCCWMD staff may be able to assist in future events, further conversation/coordination would be needed to establish how support/relationship would work.
- Actions taken may minimize or mitigate flooding and associated damage, but no amount of work will prevent flooding from occurring in the future.
Action Items:
- Tri County Council will conduct 1:1 interviews with key Allegany County staff.
- Mayor Coburn will convene the Towns meeting to get input from the other elected officials and administrators.
- McKay will convene other subcommittees.
Expectations from Georges Creek Task Force Report:
- Concise, 4 to 5 pages – “This is what needs done.”
- For the Western Maryland Delegation to take to Annapolis: Needs specifically related to Legislation, Policy, and Funding.
- Responsible party for carrying out recommendations – Western Maryland Delegation.
- Recommendations with a statewide implication could be pursed as a District 1 Pilot initiative.
A draft report structure will be prepared by Tri County Council and shared with the group via email and feedback can be sent by email. The next meeting will occur in 2 months.
Executive Committee Members: Gov. Wes Moore, Sen. Mike McKay, Del. Jim Hinebaugh, Mayor Jack Coburn, John Kirby, Scott Shoemaker, and Bill Valentine. Tri County Council for Western Maryland will attend the meetings as note-taker and will be responsible for compiling the report.
Next Meeting: September 10 at 10 am.
Board of Public Works Approvals – August 6, 2025
Board of Public Works approves several items to impact Districts 1A, 1B, and 1C
District 1A
A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit a total of $118,314 from Program Open Space funding allocated to Allegany County for the following projects:
- Maryland Avenue Ballfield: $45,000 to improve the basketball courts; $54,000 for new playground equipment
- Luke Legacy Park: $9,000 to purchase and install rubber mulch for the park’s playground
- Iron Furnace Park: $10,314 to purchase and install benches and picnic tables
District 1B
- $37,413 from Program Open Space funding allocated to Allegany County to replace deteriorating wood decking at the Frostburg Depot Station
- $75,000 from the Community Parks and Playground Program to install two new light poles with high efficiency bulbs for the soccer field at Baker Park
- $1,500,000 grant to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Development Corp for infrastructure improvements, including the North Branch Potomac River Railroad Bridge. No matching fund requirement.
District 1C
- Oldtown Ballfields: $7,740 to refurbish the walking track
- Flintstone Community Park: $16,002 to replace fencing and add new dugout and baseline fencing
Click here for the August 6, 2025 BPW Agenda
Dates of Interest – 2025 Interim
August
- 4-6 National Conference of State Legislatures (Boston, Massachusetts)
- 17-20 Council of State Governments, Eastern Regional Conference (Providence, Rhode Island)
- 29 Deadline for executive agency submission of FY 2027 budgets
September
- 2 Deadline for executive agency submission of departmental legislation to Governor
October
- 1 Customary date for 2025 enacted bills to take effect
- 20 Report due from the Capital Debt Affordability Committee
November
- 1 Statutory deadline for members of the General Assembly to request drafting of prefiled bills
- 20 Statutory deadline for members of the General Assembly to approve drafted bills for prefile introduction
December
- 20 Report due from the Spending Affordability Committee
- TBA Board of Revenue Estimates’ forecast of State revenues for FY 2026 and 2027
- TBA Compilation of Legislative Committee Reports on Interim Activities
January 2026
- 14 First day of the 2026 session of the General Assembly (Wednesday)
- April 13 is the last day of the 2026 90-day legislative session
Click here for 2025 Interim Dates of Interest
Contact Update
Please update your records with my new Maryland General Assembly Senate email address:
📧 mike.mckay@senate.maryland.gov
